Happy Birthday Baba Abbas. I wish you were here. You would be proud of us.

پدر عزیزم جات خیلی خالیه

Baba Abbas believed you can achieve anything by having faith and belief in yourself. His determination and courage is something to learn from and pass on to the next generations.

Baba Abbas

There were many things baba Abbas was in his lifetime. He was an athlete, a veteran an educator and a storyteller. He would always tell us long stories of his adventures every time he could. Some of these stories would get so elaborate and unheard of, we sometimes didn't believe him. But we let him tell us because we admired the things he's seen and the places he's been. He was well traveled and cultured. He was a grandfather not only 5 children, but often seen as the communal grandfather. As my cousins, friends, and distant relatives always called him baba Abbas and respected him as their own.

Baba Abbas taught me to be proud. His blood runs through our veins and he made sure we knew often! Whenever he introduced us he would get the classic grin he has, dimples showing, but hiding his teeth. He told us how important it is to be proud of where you come from, culturally. Telling us elaborate stories of the places he's been in Iran and elsewhere. Explaining traditions to us every time we saw him.

He taught me to be strong and healthy mentally and physically. He would swim 50-60 laps every morning at 6am before he'd go to his security job. He would flex his bicep and make me feel his muscles to show me he's still got it to prove age will not hold him back. He told me stories of when he was boxing and knocked someone out with one punch! Although, he was also very firm about being strong, mentally. If I ever cried, he would say, "chera gerye Mikoni?" He would always tell me it's not worth the tears. If we were ever wronged, he'd tell us to forget about them. They're not worth the tears.

He taught me how important it is to always be presentable. He would never leave the house without a pair of slacks and a nice clean shirt. His uniform would always be ironed and flawless. His face was always shaved. In some of his later days, while he was still fighting, We took him to the emergency room and my job was to pick up a phone charger. He was so adamant about getting his watch. He wants his watch to be presentable at the hospital. This was a hard moment for me to wrap my brain around.

He taught me to love. As you'll see in these photos, baba abbas is often lovingly looking at maman Badry. He loved her with every cell in his body. He would call her bebe (queen, in Farsi) and would always flirt with her when They were in the same room. One time as I was cutting his hair, I trimmed his eyebrows and told him now maman Badry can see when you wink at her! And his proud smile was back. He loved both his children, and only wanted the best for each of them. He loved his grandchildren each in their own way. We brought that same proud smile to his face every time we saw him. He knew how successful he was every time we were all together around his dinner table, as he slowly ate each bite of his food until he was finished. Although he wasn't a very emotional person, he made sure he told people "to midooni cheghadr doostet daram?" And with that, we all remember how much he loved us.

He taught me to be brave. There was never a task too scary for him. Being in the Air Force says a lot about him. He was never afraid of the ocean, which was mind boggling for me! When I was little, he'd put me on his shoulders and just walk straight into the ocean. My heart would be pounding, for fear that I will get hit by a wave and drown, but the moment a wave would hit me, and he saw I couldn't figure my way out, he'd swoop me out of the water and laugh it off with me. Then he'd swim for hours in the ocean and the lakes we later went to in Sonora. Sometimes he'd swim so far, we'd wonder if he's even planning on coming back! But I like to think that he's gone for a long swim away from us. He's comfortable, and has his family and brothers around him. Taking shots and telling each other stories.

Baba Abbas, we love you.

I'll always remember his kindness.

love u amoo abbas forever

dear amoo joonam
rest in peace

god bless your soul my dearest uncle

Parviz and I are so sorry to hear of Abbas's passing. Our thoughts, prayers and love are coming your way.